§ Rev. William McCreaTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many beds are available in public nursing homes for the elderly; and what was the equivalent number five years ago.
§ Mr. HanleyNone. The health and social services boards have never been involved in the provision of nursing homes in Northern Ireland.
§ Rev. William McCreaTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many(a) private nursing homes and (b) private residential homes there are in each of the health board areas in Northern Ireland.
§ Mr. HanleyThe information is as follows:
(a) At 31 December 1990, the latest date for which information is held centrally, the number of registered nursing homes in Northern Ireland was as follows:
Board Private homes Voluntary homes Eastern 62 4 Northern 50 2 Southern 24 5 Western 17 — (b) At 31 March 1990, the latest date for which information is held centrally, the number of registered homes for persons in need was as follows:
Board Private homes Voluntary homes Eastern 66 30 Northern 37 9 Southern 21 3 Western 13 15 1The figures supplied in respect of the Western Board relate to 31 March 1989 as the information relating to 31 March 1990 is not yet available.